The Hermeneutics of Sacred Texts

Sor Juana wrote biblical commentaries and defended women's interpretive authority in theological matters—radical acts in 17th-century New Spain. She modeled hermeneutics as a living practice: texts have depth that reveals itself to thoughtful, humble inquiry. For those in religious transition, this concept offers a bridge. Rather than abandoning sacred texts entirely or accepting only one reading, hermeneutics invites layered engagement. A believer might read for spiritual nourishment; a doubter might examine internal contradictions; a leaver might extract wisdom while rejecting truth claims. Sor Juana's tradition honors the text's complexity while asserting the reader's competence. This approach prevents religious transition from requiring intellectual self-erasure, allowing people to maintain relationship with their tradition's sources while honestly acknowledging uncertainty.